Cong seeks removal of UP chief secy, top officials

Congress on Monday demanded immediate removal of controversial UP chief secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh and other senior officials accusing them of "acting like arms and eyes" of Mayawati government in the poll-bound state.

Congress on Monday demanded immediate removal of controversial UP chief secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh and other senior officials accusing them of "acting like arms and eyes" of Mayawati government in the poll-bound state.

The demand was made before the election commission by a Congress delegation led by Digvijay Singh which submitted a list of 11 officials including names of senior, middle and junior level officers.

Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi, who was part of the delegation, said, "These officers are completely subordinated, intimidated and used as arms and eyes of the ruling party."

Citing examples, he said in two constituencies, the husbands of female candidates are working as education officers.

Alleging "total submission of the state machinery to the ruling party", Singhvi said at the AICC briefing, "they are are spokespersons of BSP. They are not government servants but servants of the BSP."

He said, "The election commission has heard us patiently. We are expecting some tough action... at least immediate transfer."

Congress sources said the names of the chief secretary and another senior officer Fateh Bahadur Singh figured in the list given to the EC.

The party complained to the EC that Mayawati government was violating the model code of conduct by "misusing" its officials to create a "non-level playing field" during the polls.